Solving
Persistent Problems with Effective Collaboration

The Smarter Land Use
Project, after more than twelve years of philanthropically funded research has discovered that 1) effective collaboration quickly reveals ideas that
solve persistent problems; 2) problem-solving ideas come when there is
a shift to a unifying consciousness; 3) the shift occurs when a person
gets a feeling of community spirit by giving, making friends, sharing
examples, etc; 4) the only person whose consciousness you can shift is
you. The goal is to get problem-solving ideas by shifting yourself to
a unifying consciousness when you are in the middle of a problem.

A community's strength
is a function of its unity. Decisions are more sustaining and beneficial
to all stakeholders when they are made via a unifying consciousness. Each
proposed decision is an opportunity for effective collaboration. When
the primary focus of discussions and activities is on improving relationships,
defensiveness gives way to the sustainable, problem-solving ideas of a
unifying consciousness. When you connect with a project stakeholder whom
you don't know or don't trust, and suggest getting to know each other
so that you can work better together, the other person will usually appreciate
the idea and accept your invitation if they feel that an improved relationship
will benefit them as well. When you get together, be sure to focus on
making friends ... avoid defensiveness by not talking about the proposed
project. The deeper you shift into a unifying consciousness before you
bring up the proposed project, the better the ideas that you will get
and the better the decisions that you will make.

The primary emphasis
of Karl Kehde's research is to find a way to redirect the wasteful energy
of confrontation to creative problem solving. To do the research, Karl
has already participated in more than 500 meetings between local residents,
developers, planning officials, and environmental groups on upwards of
50 proposed projects across the United States.

The major benfits
of effective collaboration are as follows:

New problem solving
ideas beneficial to all stakeholders are revealed.

Community-enhancing features are added to each proposed project.

Residents adjacent
to the proposed project gain an improved sense of safety and community.

No outside facilitator is necessary.

As stakeholder
relationships improve, the decision making process becomes less aggravating,
more efficient, and with less regulation and litigation.

Download or listen
now to two free podcasts: Why
So Much Distrust (8 min) and How
to Trust (11 min). These are excerpts from Karl Kehde's
discussion with community leaders in Steamboat Springs on May 5, 2008.
Email Karl with your comments
or questions.

Is
a proposed change in land use causing aggravation in your neighborhood
or community? The Collaborative Land
Use Planning Guidebook, which may be downloaded free without the CD or purchased here or from Amazon for $29, can help you
set up a process for improving relationships among stakeholders and upgrading
the proposed project. Effective collaboration as detailed in the guidebook can be particularly effective when there is confrontation
between stakeholders.